It is kind of wild to think about now, but there was a time when the biggest star in the world was just a guy named Mark "Dags" D'Agastino with a bleach-blonde dye job. If you haven't revisited the cast of National Lampoon's Senior Trip lately, you’re missing out on one of the most bizarre "before they were famous" time capsules in 90s cinema. Most people remember the movie as a raunchy, critically panned road trip flick about a group of Ohio high schoolers causing chaos in Washington D.C. Honestly, the critics back in 1995 absolutely hated it. But looking back from 2026, the roster is a goldmine of talent that basically shaped modern pop culture.
The Hawkeye Origin Story: Jeremy Renner
You cannot talk about this movie without starting with Jeremy Renner. Seriously. This was his film debut. Before he was dodging explosions in The Hurt Locker or firing arrows in the MCU, he was the slacker ringleader Dags. It’s a surreal experience watching him play a "nitwit" teen when we’re so used to his grizzled, serious persona.
Renner has obviously had a massive career, but he’s also had a heavy few years recently. After that terrifying snowplow accident in 2023, his journey back to health has been nothing short of a miracle. By 2026, he’s fully back in the swing of things, even doing his own stunts again. It’s funny to think that the journey to Hollywood royalty started with a National Lampoon credit and a joke about lip-syncing bands.
From Teen Queen to Voice Acting Royalty: Tara Strong
Then there is Tara Strong. In the film, she was credited as Tara Charendoff, playing the "class hottie" Carla Morgan. If you look at her now, you might not recognize her face as easily as her voice. She has become arguably the most prolific voice actress of our generation.
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We’re talking about the voice of Harley Quinn, Timmy Turner, Bubbles from The Powerpuff Girls, and Twilight Sparkle. She basically voiced everyone's childhood. While she was just the "eye candy" in Senior Trip, she’s now a titan of the industry. Her career is a great example of how these 90s ensemble comedies were often a proving ground for actors who would eventually find their true calling in entirely different genres.
The Comedy Veterans and Cult Icons
The cast of National Lampoon's Senior Trip wasn't just made up of newcomers. They had some serious heavy hitters from the comedy world trying to keep the energy up.
- Matt Frewer (Principal Todd Moss): Frewer was already a legend as Max Headroom before he took on the role of the stressed-out principal. He spent the movie having what one critic called "55 facial tics per minute." He’s still active today, often appearing in sci-fi and horror projects where his unique physical acting style fits perfectly.
- Kevin McDonald (Travis Lindsey): As a founding member of The Kids in the Hall, McDonald brought a very specific, weird energy to the film. He played the "Star Trek"-obsessed crossing guard. It was a small role, but he’s one of those guys who makes anything he’s in about 20% funnier just by being there.
- Tommy Chong (Red): You can't have a 90s stoner-adjacent comedy without a legend like Tommy Chong. He played Red, the bus driver. Chong is still a cultural icon in 2026, leaning into his persona and remaining a vocal advocate for cannabis culture long after it went mainstream.
The Canadian Connection: Nicole de Boer and Sergio Di Zio
A lot of people forget this movie was filmed largely in Canada, which explains why so many Canadian TV staples are in the mix. Nicole de Boer, who played Meg Smith, went on to have a huge cult following as Ezri Dax in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. Then you have Sergio Di Zio (Steve Nisser), who became a familiar face on the long-running procedural Flashpoint.
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It’s these kinds of details that make the movie worth a re-watch. You’ll be sitting there pointing at the screen every five minutes going, "Wait, is that the guy from that one show?"
Why We Still Care About This Cast
The movie itself might not be a masterpiece—okay, it definitely isn't—but it represents a specific era of "lightning in a bottle" casting. New Line Cinema clearly had an eye for talent. They took a bunch of unknowns and paired them with established weirdos.
What’s interesting is how the "educational failure" plot of the movie actually mirrors the careers of the actors. They were the underdogs. They were the ones the "Senators" of the industry looked down on. Yet, thirty years later, Renner is an Oscar nominee and Strong is a voice acting legend.
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Moving Forward: How to Watch and What to Look For
If you’re planning a nostalgia night, don’t just watch it for the toilet humor. Look for the chemistry between Renner and Rob Moore (who played Reggie). You can tell they were actually having fun, which is probably why the movie has survived as a cult classic despite the 0% scores on some review sites.
Next Steps for the Superfan:
- Check out the 4K restoration if you want to see Renner's 90s hair in high definition.
- Look for the cameos from Tommy Chong’s real-life son, Paris Chong, who played Pablo.
- Follow Tara Strong on social media; she often shares "throwback" stories about her early live-action days that are pretty hilarious.
The legacy of the movie isn't the script—it's the people who survived it. They went from a "Senior Trip" to the top of the A-list, proving that even a goofy comedy can be the start of something huge.